Portable x-ray apparatus



June 13, 1933.

W. S. WERNER PORTABLE X-RAY APPARATUS Filed May 6, 1930 ml burSm erner Patented June 13, 1933 WILZBUR s. WERNER, on covINeTon KENTUc Y, ASSIGNOR TO THE KELLEY-KOETT COMPANY, mo oncovmemon, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION or MANUFACTURING KENTUGKY Application. filed May a,

This invention relates to improvements in portable X-ray apparatus and has for an object the provision of a device whereby the tube and all high tension generating means These andother objects areattained by' the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing. in which:

Fig. 1 is aside elevational view of a complete and operative device of the lnventi on. Fig. 2 is a iragmental elevationlook ng from the right hand side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged and somewhat diagrammatic view on line 3 3 of F155. 1.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of tllGClGVlCG or the invention. i i i i i The practice of surface X-ray therapy for skin treatment has madepossible the use of somewhat smaller than usual transformers and tubes so that the means of the present invention makes it possible to arrange all of the high tension apparatus to be enclosed in a single unit without a contained foreign insulating medium and which is satelv manipulated and. which eliminates all danger from contact with high voltage w res.

The device consists essentially of a tractionally mounted support comprislng abase PATENT orrlce PORTABLE X-BAY APPARATUS 1930. Serial No. 450,274.

umn 11. The chain 16 is also secured toarm l3. Tightening screw 190 binds the rod 20 in adjusted position within the transverse tubular portion 21 fixed on the slide member 17. An arm 22 is suitably pivoted to rod 20 and may be secured in adiustedposition by tightening means 23. The means just described provides universal adjustment of arm 22 which carries a metal housing or casing 24.. r

The casing 24 is shaped so as to house a. suitable and preferably water cooled X-ray tube 25 in itslower end whichis of an odd funnelshape 'ortapered design so that the window housing 26 of the tube 25 may ex tend at the lower front of the casing. The casing tapers toward this window casing from the: rear and both sides thus giving prominence to the end of the tube which pro jects through the casing as well as :ample clearance to permit of adjustment. relative.

to a patients body without difficulty. Above the transverse plane at 27 the casing is gem erally three-sidedwith amply rounded corners. Adoor28 controls access to the in terior of the casing. Suitable sections of pipe or flexible tubing 29 and30 are entered through the rear of the casing and areconnected to opposite sides of the cooler jacket 3101 the X-ray tube 25. These sections of tubingcarry the necessary couplings so that one of them connects with a source of flow ing water and one side of the jacket and the other section of tubing connects with thedischarge side of the jacket andany convenient drain. The top of the casing 24 is closed and Preferably carries a suitable handle 32 whereby, when the tightening screws 190 and 23 are loosened, the casing is capable of universal adjustment in order to position the end 26 of the tube as desired. The chain 16 and its counterweight hold the apparatus at the desired elevation.

The electrical equipment and control for the device is as shown in'the wiring diagram of Fig. 4. By the arrangement of the present invention the tube and all high tension apparatus andwiring are encased within the casing 24. By projecting the end of the former 34- and a second bracket 35 secured the inner side walls of the casing supports the step-up transformer and its resistance indicated generally at 36. With this arrangement it is possible to operate and control the tube by low tension service and control wires cased in a flexible cable 37 which is suitably supported on the slide member 17 and which terminates in a control panel box 38. The control box 38 is supported on a bracket 39 which may be adjusted by a suitable clamp 40 upon the column 11. A combination main switch and circuit breaker ii of any'suitable design, anumber of which are well known to those versed in the art is disposed within the control box 38 as is an exposure switch 42 which is connected with a starting resistance 43 and a resistance cut-out contact. The control box also has mounted thereon a volt meter 44-. and a milliammeter 45 the rear ends of which are shown in Fig. 2. Filament regulator 46 is housed within the control box and is operable by a knob 47. The switches tland 42- and the regulator. 46 are all operable from the front of the control box where the operator may readthe volt meter and milliammeter. This device is especially designed for skin therapy with ultra soft radiation, and it is often desirable to move the apparatus to the bedside of one patient after another to administer treatment. An attachment cord and plug 48 provides connection between a source of ordinary house current and through it the usual service wires 49 and 50 are continued into the control box to the combination main switch and the exposure switch. Aside from the disposition of all of the high tension apparatus and wires in an enclosed container and the control apparatus and low tension wire in the control box somewhat remote therefrom and connected by a flexible cable which carries no high tension current, the particular electrical connections andthe mode of operation form no part of the present invention, since they are well known to those versed in the art. 7

The operation of the device as relates to the invention herein is as follows. The tractional support is rolled to the place where it is desired to be used and the plug connection 418 is attached to an outlet receptacle such as is found in practically all buildings. The water tubing 29 and 30 are connected with a suitable source of flowing water and a drain (not shown) and the flow of water turned on so that it passes through a tubing 29, to the cooler jacket 31 of the tube inside the casing 24, thence through the jacket where the water performs its cooling operation, thence to tube 30 to a waste connection, By operating switch ll, and the switchel2'the tube isput into operation and the filament is controlled by the knob {17 so that the operator may eifect the desired radiation therefrom. The device is readily disconnected and'moved from one place to another on its own tractional support, and the entire device is not so heavy or cumbcrsome as to make it difficult to transport the device from one building to another.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of a grounded metallic enclosing casing having a downwardly tapered bottom, an X-ray tube mounted in said casing and having the end thereof projecting through the restricted end of the casing, a universal adjustment arm supporting the casing, a structure for supporting the arm at adjusted elevations, means for generating high tension current mounted in the casing for connection with the X-ray tube, a control box comprising an instrument panel and operating switches adjustably mounted on the arm supporting structure, and flex ible cable connections between the control box and the casing.

2. In a portable X-ray apparatus the combination of a support column and support rod, a support arm slidably and rotatably adjustable upon the support rod, a casing mounted on the support arm, an X- ray tube mounted in the casing, transformer means mounted in the casing for energizing the tube, a control box on the support column, a flexible cable conductor connecting the control box and said transformer, means for connecting the control box with a source of electric supply and a water cooling means connected to the X-ray tube within the casing.

3. In combination a casing having a tapered open end, an X-ray tube mounted in the casing and having an end exposed through the opening, a cooling means connected to said tube within the casing, a control box and instrument panel mounted inclependently of the casing and connectible with a source of electric current supply, and a flexible insulated cable effecting connection between the control box and casing, transformer means connected to said cable within the casing and providing high tension electric current for said tube and tractionally mounted support means for said casing and said control box.

4. In a mobile X-ray apparatus a supporting means, a closed casing having a door controlling access thereto, an X-ray tube projecting through the casing, transformer means for said tube in the casing, a combined control box and instrument panel mounted independently of the casing, a flexible conductor cable connecting the transformer means with the control box and fiexible coolant tubing extending into the casing for cooling the X-ray tube in said casing.

5. In combination a movable support, a casing adjustable thereon, counterbalance means for the casing, an X-ray tube and high tension transformer means therefor mounted in the casing, a cooling system associated with the X-ray tube and attachable to a coolant supply exteriorly of the casing and an independently adjustable control device carried by the movable support and having a flexible electrical connection with the transformer means in the casing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this th day of April,

WILBUR s. WERNER. 

